Keki Bakery Ube cheesecake : I purchased this "bouncy" ube Japanese cheesecake from Keki bakery in K-town after having tried their classic cheesecake at their Chinatown shop. Stated to serve 3-4, it easily could serve 5-6 if you're mainly in for a small taste. At $15, it's a great deal for the quality; combining the best of a rich cheesecake with a light and airy texture that I'd describe as more fluffy than bouncy (though we ate it the day after it was purchased, so the texture might have changed a bit). Its intense pu... (read more)4.0/5.0

Culture Plain frozen yogurt with pumpkin cheesecake topping : The pumpkin cheesecake topping at Culture, a yogurt chain in NYC, features cubes of pumpkin-flavored cheesecake and a drizzle of pumpkin syrup / caramel. The cheesecake pieces were well spiced, and the syrup was rich but not too sweet. My favorite part was the plain frozen yogurt, though, which is always smooth, tart, and creamy. 3.5/5.0

Morgenstern's Ginger Grapenut, Raspberry Cheesecake, and Mango Passion Rice Ice Cream: Morgenstern's, my favorite ice cream spot in NYC, has opened up an expansive shop at 88 West Houston, with an overwhelming number of flavors organized into categories like parlor favorites (including salt n' pepper pinenut and American egg), Bananas (including charred chocolate banana and banana kalamansi), and Misc (french fry, bread, and popcorn). I love options, but the menu is intimidating, even for me. This time, we tried three different scoops from three different categories. The gi... (read more)3.5/5.0

Keki Modern Cakes Cheesecake: Keki is a mini storefront in Chinatown selling a small selection of baked items. Their cheesecake must be purchased as a whole cake (no slices available). If you’re looking for a non-traditional dessert to bring to an event, this cheesecake may be it. It’s a Japanese style cheesecake, so it’s fluffy in texture, yet deeply rich in flavor. Definitely not diet food, but it’s so light and airy that you won’t feel heavy eating it. One of the more distinct and delicious cakes I’ve had in some time. 4.0/5.0

Eileen’s Special Cheesecake Pumpkin cheesecake: Humble but well executed pumpkin cheesecake from longstanding pastry store Eileen’s Special Cheesecake. Over a dozen cheesecake flavors are available, in snack-size portions. The cheesecake tastes homemade: neither light nor dense, with just the right level of sweetness. Reminiscent of canned pumpkin used in for Thanksgiving dessert. 3.5/5.0